SERRANIDAE


Epinephelus coioides, NSMT-P 65911, 6.3 cm SL

Epinephelus coioides (Hamilton, 1822)
Orange-spotted grouper

D XI, 13 - 16; A III, 8; P1 18 - 20; LLp 58 - 65; GR 8 - 10 + 14 - 17. Body elongate, the depth 2.9 - 3.7 in SL, and not very compressed; preopercle with enlarged serrae at angle. Scales on body ctenoid except for a zone on back, thorax, abdomen, and a zone above base of anal fin narrowing to caudal peduncle; anterior lateral line scales of adults branched. Color: head and body gray-brownish dorsally, shading to whitish ventrally, with numerous small brownish orange or reddish brown spots on head, body, and median fins; body with 5 faint, irregular, oblique, dark bars which bifurcate ventrally. Size: maximum length at least 95 cm. Distribution: Indo-West Pacific: South Africa eastward to Palau and Fiji, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Australia. Remarks: small individuals closely resemble E. tauvina and E. malabaricus, but have orange spots and lack hexagonal spots on the fins.